THOUSAND OAKS — Sam Stafford was better than good on Wednesday, but in baseball that’s not always good enough to get a win.
The only hit allowed by the University of Texas pitcher came on a single in the sixth, and he left the game after the inning with a 1-0 lead. The host Conejo Oaks, however, used a two-RBI triple by Kyle Jones in the bottom of the eighth to take down the Santa Barbara Foresters 2-1 in a wonderfully played game by both sides.
“I guess it’s a little frustrating, but it’s just one of those things that happens,” said Stafford. “The team’s gonna come out tomorrow and get after it, and I know they’re gonna have my back in the next outing.”
Drew Maggi certainly had his pitchers’ back in the game, making three highlight-reel plays at shortstop. It began with two backhanded stops after which he leapt off of one foot, spun in the air and fired to first base for the out (he was a star quarterback in high school). Then in the seventh he laid out for a diving stop of a ground ball and made a flip to second baseman Davis Duren while still on his stomach, kicking off a 6-4-3 double play.
“He had some ridiculous plays today. They were web gems for sure and it was awesome,” said Stafford.
Coach Bill Pintard said Maggi was the Foresters’ player of the game.
Catcher Patric Tolentino continued to be a defensive whiz behind the plate, throwing a rocket to put out yet another runner whom he caught leaning at first base. It was his fourth such pickoff of the season, and it came as the final out in the bottom of the sixth.
James Wharton scored Santa Barbara’s only run after leading off the top of the fourth inning with a stand-up double. He advanced to third on a wild pitch by Conejo’s starter, Kevin Gelinas of UCSB. Ryan Hege then drove him in on a sacrifice fly.
The Oaks (14-9, 7-7 CCL) did all their damage with two outs in the eighth, as Foresters (14-6, 7-2 CCL) reliever Matt Evers issued a walk to Walker Shaw and then gave up a single to Brad Greve. Jones then came up and knocked the RBI tripe to left-center.
Foresters captain Ryan Goetz, who has played every day and was getting a much-needed day off, came in as a pinch-hitter to lead off the ninth and promptly smacked a single up the middle. Brandon Loy, a new arrival from the Foresters and the starting shortstop for the Texas Longhorns, sacrificed Goetz over to second with a bunt and he got to third on a groundout by Duren. Tolentino ripped one to center field but it was caught to end the game.
“It was a good ballgame,” said Pintard. “They beat us, but we made a lot of really great plays today.”
Pintard hates losing like anyone else, but he also knows that playing great baseball still doesn’t guarantee a win.
Sam Stafford does too.
The Foresters host the Oaks in the rubber match of the series on Thursday at 5 p.m. at UCSB. Parking lot 30 is closed for maintenance, but alternate parking is available in nearby lots.
All games are broadcast on AM 1490 KIST and www.sbforesters.org.
